Folding shipping-crate



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-8heet '1. J. H. POLLARD. FOLDING SHIPPING CRATE.

Patented Dec. 22, 1896.

J/fimeah 1 0 Hand.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. POLLARD. FOLDING SHIPPING CRATE.

No. 573,529. Patented Dec. 22, 1896.

IS PmRs co. morouwo WASHINGTON o c.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES II. POLLARD, OF CLARENCE, MISSOURI.

FOLDING SHIPPING-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,529, dated December22, 1896.

Application filed May 5, 1896.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES H. POLLARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Clarence, in the county of Shelby and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Folding Shipping-0rate, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to shipping-crates adapted for use as apoultry-coop, egg-case, or the equivalent thereof, and the object inview is to provide a folding crate of simple construction possessing therequisite strength and durability, and, furthermore, to provide improvedmeans for holding the parts of the crate in operative position.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate embodying myinvention, the same being closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing thecrate-top open. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the top and bottom ofthe crate folded parallel with the sides. Fig. 4 is a similar viewshowing the crate folded. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of thelock-hooks and the eye with which it is engaged.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

The crate embodying my invention comprises sides 1, connected terminallyby the ends 2, the means of connection consisting of strap-braces 3,secured to the outer surfaces of the sides and provided with inturnedterminal ears 4, which extend, respectively, over and under the upperand lower edges of the ends and are pivotally connected thereto by meansof pins 5. \Vhen the device is to be used as an egg-case, anintermediate wall or partition 2 is introduced, the same being pivotallymounted, as described in connection with the end walls, by means ofstraps 3.

Hinged, respectively, to opposite edges of the side walls are the top (3and bottom 7, which extend beyond the planes of the outer surfaces ofthe end walls and are provided with terminal cleats 8 to bear againstsaid outer surfaces of the end walls. cleats 8 may also be secured tothe inner sur- Auxiliary Serial No. 590,373. (No model.)

faces of the top and bottom to engage opposite sides of the intermediatewall or partition 2. The hinges which I prefer to employ for securingthe top and bottom to the side walls consist of flexible straps 9; ofleather, metal,or suitable material, each strap being secured at one endto the side and at the other end to the lid, said top and bottom eachconstituting a lid. By this arrangement of the straps constituting thehinges the. lid is adapted to occupy either the closed positionindicated in Fig. 1 or the open position shown in Fig. 3, in which it isparallel with the side. The top lid 6 is preferably provided with afastening device 10, consisting of a base-plate 11, pivotally mountedupon the front edge of the lid by means of a screw 12 or its equivalent,and spring-actuated hooks or shouldered arms 13, mounted upon said platefor engagement with the ends of a keeper let on the outer surface of thecontiguous side. The base-plate is also provided with upturned cars 15,forming stops to limit the outward swinging movement of the hooks underthe tension of the actuating-spring 16. It will be seen that when thelid is closed the hooks and base-plate pass through the keeper and theshoulders of the hooks engage the ends of the same. The bottom lid ispreferably secured in its closed position by means of hooks 17 whichperform the additional function of braces and extend from the outer edgeof the lid to a point contiguous to the center of each end. In order toprevent accidental disarrangement of the hooks without preventing theirdisengagement when necessary to fold the crate, I employ locking devices.consisting of spring-loops 18, one of which is arranged to embrace theeye 19, with which the hook is engaged and spanning the opening of theeye. The hook is provided with a tapered extremity and contiguousnotches 20 in its outer side for engagement by the spring loop. hen it.is desired to disengage the hook from the eye, the loop maybe repressedby means of its outer projecting extremity.

In addition to the fastening devices above described I preferably employfasteningstraps 21, which are passed through openings 22, formed incleats 23, secured to the outer surfaces of the ends of the crate, andalso through openings formed in the end cleats 8 of the top and bottomlids. Each strap is providedat one end with a buckle 24, and after thestrap has been passed through the registering openings in the cleats Sand 23 its extremities are brought together, as shown in Fig. 1.

The crate may be opened either at the top or bottom by loosening thestraps and disengaging either the locking device 10 or the lock-hooks,and if it is desired to fold the crate the lids are arranged parallel,respectively, with the sides 1, and the sides are pushed toward eachother to fold the ends between the planes thereof, as shown in Fig. 4.To secure the crate in its folded position,

-I employ the straps, which may be buckled nected to said ears to foldbetween the planes of the sides, top and bottom lids hinged respectivelyto said sides to fold outwardly and occupy positions parallel therewith,said lids being provided upon their inner sides with cleats to engagethe contiguous edges of the end walls, and means for securing the lidsin their closed positions, substantially as specified.

2. A shipping-crate having parallel side walls, end walls arrangedbetween the planes of the side walls and pivotally connected thereto,top and bottom lids hinged respectively to the sides and adapted to foldoutwardly to occupy positions parallel therewith, cleats on theextremities of the lids arranged beyond the planes of the end walls,

cleats on the outer surfaces of the end walls provided with openings toregister with similar openings in said cleats on the lids, andsecuring-straps engaging said registering openin gs, substantially asspecified.

3. A shipping-crate having parallel side walls terminally connected bypivotal end walls arranged between the planes of the side walls, top andbottom lids hinged, respectively, to the side walls to fold outwardlyand occupy planes parallel therewith, said lids being provided withcleats to engage the contiguous edges of the end walls, and lookingdevices for said lids, the locking device for the top lid having aswinging base-plate adapted to pass through a keeper on the contiguousside wall, and spring-actuated hooks pivotally mounted upon saidbase-plate and provided with shoulders to engage the extremities of thekeeper, the locking device being adapted to be swung laterally to occupya position in the plane of the lid, substantially as specified.

4. A shipping-crate having parallel side walls terminally connected byinterposed pivotal end walls, top and bottom lids hinged, respectively,to the side walls to fold outwardly parallel with the planes thereof,and locking devices for the free edges of the lids, the locking devicefor the bottom lid consisting of hooks connected to the free edges ofthe lid and extending upwardly and inwardly to a point contiguous to thecenters of the end walls, eyes for engagement by said hooks, andspring-loops embracing the eyes to span the openings thereof and adaptedto engage notches in the contiguous extremities of the hooks,substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. POLLARD. lVitnesses:

CHAS. SPALDING, J. L. Rnnxes.

